Importance

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Abstract

A steering device is attached to a submersible swimming pool cleaner for aiding in turning the cleaner away pool side wall engaging positions and thus allowing the cleaner to move across pool surfaces for performing its cleaning function. The steering device includes elongated rods extending from a connector fitting attached to the pool cleaner hose connector. Driven gears of the pool cleaner connector drive the steering device and cause rod ends engaging a pool side wall to lift and push the cleaner away from the side wall. The fitting and thus the rods are freely rotatable through a limited arc about an axis of rotation of the connector, defined by movement of a gear tooth between stop prongs. The ability of the rods to rotate freely within this arc overcomes a problem of excess drag to the cleaner by the steering device. Further, the rods extend radially outward and downward form the fitting such that the rod tips engage the side wall and initiate a ratchet-like action against the side wall surface which results in an upward force acting on the cleaner for reducing friction between cleaner ground engaging portions and the pool bottom wall surface, thus making it easier to rotate the cleaner for movement along pool surfaces to be cleaned.

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First Claim